Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,717 in Zouk Mikael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,326 in Zouk Mikael.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 27% more expensive than Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Zouk Mikael is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$10.64 LBP 952.5K
-66.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$59.4 LBP 5.3M
-45.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$7.93 LBP 709.9K
-38.71%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.31 LBP 295.9K
-16.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.56 LBP 139.9K
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.88 LBP 79.0K
-20.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$3.41 LBP 304.9K
-14.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$4.86 LBP 435.0K
-22.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.71 LBP 152.6K
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.32 LBP 28.8K
671.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.81 LBP 162.1K
-33.70%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.23 LBP 288.8K
-24.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$5.14 LBP 460.3K
179.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$9.72 LBP 869.6K
-55.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$11.37 LBP 1.0M
7.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.74 LBP 156.0K
111.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.46 LBP 130.7K
6.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.15 LBP 103.1K
142.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$1.06 LBP 94.6K
119.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.41 LBP 36.7K
380.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.00 LBP 89.3K
131.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.81 LBP 72.7K
30.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.52 LBP 46.9K
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$2.54 LBP 227.8K
29.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$9.98 LBP 893.5K
128.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$0.85 LBP 76.4K
230.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.13 LBP 190.3K
30.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$5.07 LBP 454.1K
-91.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$1.27 LBP 113.3K
-64.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$20.02 LBP 1.8M
-68.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.95 LBP 84.8K
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$35.6K LBP 3.2B
-26.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$27.6K LBP 2.5B
14.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$167 LBP 15.0M
-51.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$37.25 LBP 3.3M
-89.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$37.13 LBP 3.3M
-34.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$7.87 LBP 704.6K
-48.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$306 LBP 27.4M
-0.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$4,512 LBP 403.8M
46.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$72.2 LBP 6.5M
-24.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$45.72 LBP 4.1M
-15.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$73.7 LBP 6.6M
16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$95.4 LBP 8.5M
-19.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$491 LBP 43.9M
100.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$305 LBP 27.3M
115.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,006 LBP 90.0M
234.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$501 LBP 44.9M
312.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.25
212.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Zouk Mikael: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $207, with Zouk Mikael cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Zouk Mikael wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zouk Mikael the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,663 in Zouk Mikael to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
At $1,108 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zouk Mikael but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zouk Mikael the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zouk Mikael delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,108 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zouk Mikael hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zouk Mikael gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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